New versions of Perl are released on the Internet and distributed to Web
sites and ftp archives across the world. UNIX binaries are generally not
made available on the Internet, as it is generally better to build Perl
on your system so that you can be certain it will work. All UNIX systems
have a C compiler, after all.

Each operating system has its own
way of getting and installing Perl.

For UNIX and OS/2

-- The Perl Home Page contains a software
link (http://www.perl.com/perl/info/software.html)
that will enable you to download the latest Perl source code. The page also explains
why Perl binaries are not available. Hopefully, your system will already
have Perl installed. If not, try to get your system administrator to
install it.

For Windows 95/Windows NT

-The home page of hip
communications, inc. (http://www.perl.hip.com) contains a link
to download the i86 Release Binary. This link lets you download a zip file
that contains the Perl files in compressed form. CD-ROM copiess are
freely distributed with many Perl books and also on CDROM: for example,
Perl - Walnut Greek CD-ROM

For Macintosh Computers

-- MacPerl is a ported version of
Perl with a basic but very useable User Interface.It is available from

http://www.iis.ee.ethz.ch/ neeri/macintosh/perlman/perl_toc.html,

http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ ssilcot/macperl-primer/

.

It also comes on
CD-ROM with many Perl Books

Instructions for compiling Perl or for installing on each operating system are
included with the distribution files. Follow the instructions provided and you should
having a working Perl installation rather quickly.